May I ask you something?
One of my dear friend’s little boy has cancer.
Just writing such words seems scary. He is only just two years old.
Yesterday, he started chemo and we are all praying fervently that God will restore his little body … will you say a prayer for him each day over the next month? His family truly needs your prayers as they journey this frightening chapter. I just can’t post on the blog without asking for prayer because this sweet family and this little precious boy are in my thoughts every day … pray that Jesus carries this wee little boy through this challenging month of chemo and testing …

Jen Heemskerk -Father God,
I pray for your healing touch upon this small boy. Make every part of his body function the way you designed it to. Wherever there is anything out of balance, set it in perfect working order. Heal him and strengthen his body to successfully endure his workload, and when he sleeps may he wake up completely rested, rejuvenated and refreshed. Give him a strong heart. Sustain him and heal him. Fill him with your joy and give him your strength. Thank you Lord that you are aware of every situation and you have heard our prayers.
Specifically I pray his parents. Give them faith to say “O Lord, my God, I cried out to you and you healed me” (Psalm 30:2) Thank you Lord that you are our Healer- Jehovah Rapha! Lord, you are never far from us and you do not forget us in our time of need. You have seen their tears and surely you will heal! Amen
A special blessing for you both:
“Your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. “~Isaiah 58:8

March 21, 2015 - 2:09 pm

Kristina -Yes, we are praying for this beautiful family every day. I love the image you’ve posted of Jesus carrying this baby through this hard time… I’m going to think of that while I pray for them … and picture Jesus carrying the Mama, too.

These days, it can be a challenge to find entertaining, lovely movies to watch with your children. Since we do not have internet available for watching movies, and do not subscribe to programs like Netflix, etc. I’m usually on the lookout for wholesome additions to our video library.

This sweet video, made by Moore Family Films, will teach your children 26 Bible verses co-ordinated with the alphabet in an adorable, endearing way. My girls laugh and giggle each time they watch the cute farm animals and the precious siblings work together to create scenes that help the children remember Scripture – and it honestly does help them memorize the verses. This is by far their favorite video …

Moore Family Films has many more videos that you can also add to your home library. Each film is wholesome and encouraging.

Until the end of March, Gigi blog readers can purchase these films with a discount rate – just enter the code: gigi20 when checking out from their website and you will receive 20% your order.

Simply leave a comment at the bottom of the blog and at the end of March, we will randomly pick a winner. The dvd will be mailed to you shortly afterwards.
Believe me, you will be encourage to hear your little children learning Scripture and hiding it in their hearts.

What a precious gift to give our little ones!

Please visit the Moore Family Films website to find out more information on their films. Be blessed and encouraged as you watch films that highlight a family’s Biblical vision of life.

It’s a sad and terrible day when our children’s sex education curriculum is written with a pedophile-based agenda.

I shutter to even post such information on my blog, and yet to sit back and be silent is shameful.

If you live in Ontario, if you have children in the public or Catholic schools in Ontario, if you have grandchildren in the education system, I implore you to find out what is happening with our province’s sex ed curriculum. And to voice your concerns before it hits the schools this fall. We cannot sit back and be silent on this issue.

“No reasonable parent would trust a convicted child pornographer with their child’s education,
particularly their child’s sexual education. But if your child will be attending a provincially-funded school in Ontario this fall, you are doing just that. The sex-ed curriculum being implemented in both public and Catholic schools in September 2015 (1),
was developed under the oversight and leadership of convicted pornographer
and former Deputy Minister for Education, Benjamin Levin.

In 2013 Mr. Levin, was arrested on charges related to child pornography.
Just days ago (March 3, 2015), he pleaded guilty and was convicted of three of those charges.
One of the most alarming charges he was convicted of was counseling another person
to commit a sexual assault on a minor. (2)“

Terri-Ann -I hope all parents know that they can withdraw their children from sex Ed classes. My mom sat in (at school) on our sex ed classes (25 years ago) for grades four and five, and then withdrew us completely from grades six to nine. But in all the years of sex Ed for my sisters and I, we were the only ones whose parents withdrew us. I have been telling parents who are actively teaching their children this area (which does need to be done) to know that you have this right and to not let others dictate how and when and what your children are taught about sexuality.

March 16, 2015 - 9:57 pm

Jen Heemskerk -Just something to think about- as a church family, we need to get to know the local schools in our area. We need to “adopt a school” in a sense, and take coffee to the administrators, and help with their programs – if they need their property tidied up – go and pick up garbage outside, volunteer to mentor kids in any program you are allowed, help do whatever it takes, pray for the staff and students, and build relationships. I have been dwelling on psalm 37 ALOT lately and praying for our society as a whole. God knows and nothing is too hard for Him.

March 16, 2015 - 9:43 pm

Jen Heemskerk -Oh Gillian, my heart has been so unsettled about this as I am a Christian teacher in the public education system. It is my mission field, and there is a purpose as to why God has placed me where He has- I’m at a very high needs/low income school. Although there needed to be changes made, I believe they should have added things like mental health.- as that is what teachers and students (even in primary grades) are dealing with most. As for sex education- I believe that parents should be take seriously their role and responsibilities that come with being parents. The sentiment that we should allow schools to do the role of parents because parents are purportedly not doing the task is not a solution in my mind but a surrender. Please pray for Christian educators within this system- there is an agenda and it’s moral lines need to be drawn.

“The children are outside.
I’m doing laundry. Bright, sunny winter’s day.
Maybe the first one this winter that feels genuinely like beginning spring.”

One of my favorite tasks as a homemaker is washing and hanging up the laundry … with six children, we have a lot of dirty clothes (twice as much during the summer when the children play outside from sun-up to sun-down). I must not be lazy with this task as one day off and I fall quickly behind. I once read that doing laundry provides a mother with the opportunity to pray for her children with each little item to be folded, or each sock that needs pairing … sometimes, I must admit, I forget to pray but other times, I am gently reminded that laundry time provides a time of prayer over the family.

But hanging the washed little and big various clothes items on the line is one of the most wonderful tasks at hand for the day.

One of my favorite things with laundry is hanging it on the line …. if you have never hung laundry on a line, you are surely denying yourself one of the best ‘chores’ with keeping the home. The sunshine on your skin, the sound of the birds singing in the trees, listening to your children play outside, having the wind brush your hair and bring back some fresh air into your lungs … it’s a beautiful way to start your morning.
It’s March and the winter days are melting into spring ever so slowly. It’s a wonderful day when the laundry flies on the line after months of being dried indoors.

Our laundry is line-dried all year long.

In the summer, we line dry outdoors. I would never think to turn the dryer on during the spring, summer and autumn months. The dryer is never used.

I also do not use our dryer during the winter, but hang dry the laundry on an indoor line. It’s been over a year since I’ve used the dryer in the winter months and for years, we have used the line during the warmer months. I gave up the dyer last January, and simply started line drying indoors during the winter. It didn’t take long to realize how easy it would be to simply hang the laundry inside or outside on a good winter day. Sometimes, when company visits and I have not had a chance to remove the clothes, they notice the laundry strung across the room, I wonder if they question ‘why’ – but it does save money and it also adds moisture to a dry winter home.

Yes, I love my laundry line and all the blessings that come with each wooden clothespin hanging the laundry up so well …

Kristina -I meant to get a clothesline when we moved here last spring, but somehow never got around to it. But you’ve inspired me. I’m going to get that clothesline now. As for drying indoors in the winter, it had never occurred to me. And maybe I would find my house too small for it to be practical. But I’m going to give it some thought, anyway. Because you’re right, we certainly do need some moisture in the air in the winter! And it would save some money in energy at the same time. Thanks for posting this!